COMMUNITY SECURITY

Communities Meeting the Challenges of Armed Violence in the Sudan & Democratic Republic of Congo Border Region

REPORT ON COMMUNTIY SECURITY WORKSHOP

Yei, 28th – 30th September 2005

Group Photo of participants (28th September, 2005)

Organized by :

Sudan Catholic Bishops & Pax Christi Netherlands Regional Conference Community security workshop in Yei September 2005

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement: ...... 4 Preface: ...... 5 Background:...... 6 Objective of the conference:...... 8 Expected results: ...... 8 Opening speeches: ...... 8 Presentations: ...... 10 1. DDR presentation...... 10 2. Report on Cross Border Crimes – Yambio Diocese:...... 12 3. Report on Cross-Border Crimes – Yei Diocese:...... 13 4. Survey From Garamba (Congo) And Lontoto (Sudan) National Parks: .... 13 5. The history of small arms proliferation in the region: ...... 15 6. Addressing insecurity in Eastern Equatoria: ...... 17 7. THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN CONTROLLING OF SMALL ARMS: . 18 Group Discussions: Problems and Action:...... 19 Local: ...... 19 Regional: ...... 21 Action plans: ...... 23 Yei – Group:...... 23 Tombura Diocese for Yambio, Maridi, Ezo and S/Yobu):...... 24 NGOs Sector, representatives from the WHO, UNHCR, Shalom Sudan, Small Arms Control South Sudan: ...... 25 CLOSING REMARKS: ...... 26 CONCLUSIONS: ...... 27 Appendices...... 28 Appendix 1: Programme...... 28 Appendix 2: List of Participants:...... 31 Appendix 3: Report on cross-border crimes - Tombura/Yambio Diocese: ...... 32 Appendix 4: Report on Cross-Border Crimes – Yei Diocese:...... 33 Appendix 5: Controlling Small Arms as international coalition ...... 37 Appendix 6: Terms of Reference - Survey...... 40

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Acknowledgement:

The conference had to change in programming and participation on the very last days. Pax Christi staff used the days prior to departure from the Netherlands talking with security people and partners in the Sudan to find ways to get the participants from DRC to the Sudan. At the last moment we had to give up. It was only due to the flexibility of the participants from both sides to adjust to the new setting: two separate workshops in stead of one bilingual workshop.

In particular I would like to thank the Bishop of Yei for hosting and opening our workshop. In moments of political, economical and social restructuring and regional insecurity, it is clearly needed to have spiritual guidance joining into a vision and hope that is deeper than our contemporain defeats and glories. At the same time the church has the authority from the people to speak with a prophetic voice to the civil authorities. This requires an insight into the biblical hopes but also the political realities of today. We are therefore grateful for the encouraging words of the Lordships Arkulano and Hillary. The organisation of the conference in a moment of change, just after the inauguration and death of Dr Garang, and the civil unrest thereafter has not been easy. Despite his many tasks, and not the least his work on the constitution review committee, Robert Ladu Loki managed to organise the conference and facilitate the surveys. Together with the dedicated support of Mrs Dinah the SCBRC has shown again to be a wonderful partner to work with. I would like to thank Micha Hollestelle for his willingness to join at a very last notice and Lt. Col. Monyjok who has persisted in being present at our workshop on small arms and community security despite his other duties.

The workshop was successful as it succeeded in bringing together civil society and the SPLM to make a start on talking on modalities to build community security and to disarm. The participants acknowledged the importance of the regional context and future meetings with the Congolese counterparts are still on the agenda. In particular the Justice and peace committees have gone home with action plans that are relevant in building community security. The idea was born to start the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms as part of the world wide International Action Network on Small Arms.

Special thanks go to Samuel Bidal Ganya who assisted with great sense of responsibility to care for the logistics and smooth running of the workshop. Finally I would like to thank David, manager of the Crop Institute and his staff for the good support during our stay and even providing outdoor entertainment.

Edwin Ruigrok Pax Christi Netherlands Ellecom, Friday, 21 October 2005

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Preface:

The political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan has led to lawlessness that flows over the border of the two countries. This is worsened by the existence of illegal and uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons. It is on this note that Pax Christi, Netherlands and Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Regional Conference decided to hold a workshop that would involve participants from Congo and Sudan to share the problems experienced along this border and work out modalities to address them. Participants were selected based on the Catholic administrative boundaries namely, the Dioceses of Yambio and Yei (Sudan) and Dioceses of Dungu and Mahagi (Democratic Republic of Congo).

The original aim of the meeting was to confer counterparts from the dioceses of Mahagi and Dungu to share the information from both sides of the borders. Pax Christi Netherlands would then provide the necessary translation between the French speaking Congolese and the English speaking Sudanese. Due to the insecurity situation experienced due to the LRA movement from the Yei area to the town of Aba a few days before the dates of the conference, Pax Christi advised by the Bishop of Mahagi had to cancel the travel of participants from the Democratic Republic of Congo to South Sudan. The team of Pax Christi split and the conference went on but in separation; Congolese holding their conference in Congo and the Sudanese participants holding theirs in Yei from the 28th – 30th of September, 2005. Because of the different participation and consequent different character of the meeting, the original programme was adapted and the title changed from ‘Good neighbourliness conference between the Congo and the Sudan’ into Community security workshop.

A pre-conference survey was carried out within the areas covered by the two Catholic Dioceses; Tombura/Yambio and Yei before the conference. The diocese of Yambio covered the areas along the border from Maridi to Bor and the Diocese of Yei covered Tore to Kaya area.

5 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005

Background:

The proliferation of small arms has resulted in devastating consequences in particular among pastoralist societies in the Great lakes area and the Horn of Africa. Meanwhile governments fail to protect the lives and livelihoods of local communities who in turn do not have another choice than to protect themselves. Communities consequently arm themselves and are often part and parcel of dynamic arms trades. Earlier cases of disarmament has shown that unilateral, top-down imposed disarmaments result in poor cooperation from the local communities or lead to vulnerable communities and consequent increased violence1. Earlier research for conferences in Jinja2 and Arua also revealed that most of the pastoral communities use their weapons for self-defence (indicating absence of the state when it comes to law enforcement) and not for raiding. Scarcity of natural resources, increasing during the dry season put a lot of pressure on the communities to survive resulting in raids, theft, killings and vengeance. Trafficking showed to be very profitable with margins of almost 400%, while corruption within the low-paid army, customs and security officers aggravates the situation. Next to the collateral proliferation of weapons caused by the wars in the neighbouring countries, states were reported to purposely arm rivalling groups of their enemies. Abject poverty and marginalisation of the pastoralist communities forces and leads them to resolve their own affairs.

The following study starts from the premises that stakeholders need to be together from the start to come up with concrete action plans to improve local security.

The region, with wars in Congo and Sudan and lack of law enforcement in the adjacent border regions of Ethiopia and Kenya, still remains unsafe with a large amount of illicit weapons in the hands of often young, unlicensed and untrained, men.

Since 1996 a wide scale international and national war ravaged the Congo. The conflict has resulted in a massive breakdown of social and physical infrastructure and collapse of the economy. The upper part of the province of Haut Uele has in particular been suffering from the war in the Sudan. The SPLA occupied part of its territory and even after its departure the illicit arms trade continued into Congo. While research from December 2002 showed in two independent surveys that arms were also smuggled into and from Maridi and Yei on the Sudanese border, trade markets on the Congolese side were identified as Doruma, Nabiapai, de Kakesa near Faradje 3. Purchase of arms happened clandestine and often custom officers were accomplice.

These findings are again confirmed in a recent report of the British parliament: ‘’The DRC-Sudan border is also recognised as a shipment-point for arms and ammunition. MONUC sources indicated that there are arms markets along the Sudanese border, such

1 The case of Karamoja described in… 2 ADOL et al, International conference on small arms trafficking in the border regions of Sudan, Uganda and Kenya: Determining the issues and setting the strategies, November 9-13 2001, Jinja, Uganda 3 Proliferation and Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms in the North East of DRC - by JUSTICE-PLUS (Flory Kayembe, Desire Nkoy, Missak Kasongo), PDF file, 323 Kb

6 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 as in the villages of Nabiapai, Doruma and Bangbi. The types of weapons that are regularly sold in these markets include Kalachnikov, SMG, FAL, G3, GP, SAR 40 and SAR 80 (or Galil). Possible smuggling routes are from Yambio (location of another arms market), Ezo and Maridi in Sudan, and can pass via Bitima and Bagbele in the DRC before reaching the markets. Another large regional market, Ariwara, also sells smaller quantities of weapons and is used by the FAPC militia to purchase single weapons for personal use. This market is linked to Aba, Yambio, Juba and other towns in Sudan, Arua in Uganda, as well as to Kisangani. Goods are transported by bicycle over vast distances, and many of the transporters are Sudanese refugees based in Uganda. Much of this cross-border trading of weapons with Sudan is linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Information was received about arms smuggling networks that sue SPLA territory as a shipment point for weapons arriving in Mombassa, Kenya and destined for eastern DRC. These examples show that the border zone between the DRC, Sudan and Uganda is at the centre of smuggling routes which contribute to small arms proliferation.’’4

The problem of illicit arms trade is even more tangible in the national park of Garamba where several armed groups trade arms quite openly. This trafficking and the presence of these armed groups go together with the poaching of wild boar. At the same time the park harbours armed groups that again may form a threat to the security of the south Sudan.

After the signing of the peace agreement on the 9th of January 2005 there are indications that the arms flow from the Sudan into the Congo is increasing. The increased volume of arms is likely to endanger the peace in the northern part of Congo with the consequences of the destructions of goods, increased levels of banditism, increased levels of interethnic violent relations, reverse development, and this trickling down into neighbouring districts

On the other hand the Sudan is at the brink of a new era, where people long for a consolidation of the peace agreement. Demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration programmes on both sides of the border will be severely hampered when communal security is not maintained. Increased trafficking is likely to increase the feeling of insecurity.

The most recent attacks by the LRA moving from Juba to yei and finally to Aba, Congo are a case in point. The UN has put all its projects on halt and has declared the region a red zone for some days and still while writing this report the UN has put the area on level 3. The LRA now present with 400 troops in Aba have been said to be disarmed according to the BBC on 27th of October, but it is even more likely that this is not the case and they have found a safe haven within Congo, where they may have linked up with a rebel movement around Cdr Bisigi, former Cdr with Museveni and allegedly supported by Khartoum.

4 Arms flows in eastern DR Congo, All parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region, December 2004, page 28

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Objective of the conference:

The objective of the conference was to formulate a joint action plan to build community security.

The conference’s slogan was “Communities meeting the challenges of armed violence in the border region of Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo”

Expected results:

The following were expected at the end of conference:

- Joint understanding of community security along the Congolese border area. - Formulation of practical, realistic plans for building community security. - Experience that your action is adding up to a worldwide effort.

Opening speeches:

The SCBRC Justice and Peace coordinator; Mr. Robert Ladu Luki welcomed the participants to the conference. He informed the participants that due to the LRA presence near Yei town a week ago the Congolese were not able to join the conference as earlier planned. He then welcomed Bishop Erkolano Ladu Tombe to give his opening remarks.

- In his opening remarks, the Catholic Bishop of Yei H. L. Erkolano Lodu Tombe, thanked the organizers for the conference. He noted with regret that the issue of small arms proliferation is a big problem at the moment citing that even with the signing of peace, the presence of illegal arms is still witnessed. He read a verse from the holy gospel Isaiah 2:1-5 “This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In the days to come, The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream towards it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord!” His Lordship described guns as ‘instruments of destruction’. He noted that it is very likely that the number of guns outnumber the human population in the area. The Bishop urged the Sudanese people to practice peace as their dream had been realized with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). He informed

8 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 participants that the end of one thing should be the beginning of another hence it is time the Sudanese people began to practice peace. However, he noted with regret that without peace in the neighboring countries of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, realizing peace in Sudan would be a big problem. H. L. Erkolano then declared the conference open.

- In attendance was the Episcopal Church of Sudan’s Bishop of Yei H. L. Hillary Adeba. In his remarks, Bishop Hillary thanked the organizers for the conference but informed that Sudanese are uncertain about the aftermath of the six-year interim period as entailed in the CPA. Due to this uncertainty, the citizens are unwilling to surrender the guns. He felt that it was the responsibility of the government to assure the citizens of security after which the issue of disarmament would not be met by opposition. His Lordship informed participants that the presence of many illegal fire arms goes back to the time when Sudan hosted Congolese refugees whom upon returning home left the arms in the hands of the Sudanese people. He sees a strong responsibility with the SPLM to provide security. ‘How can we give up the weapons? Help us to do so!’ He also warned that the SPLA soldiers will be tempted to sell their guns, and this could be to the DRC.

- The Executive Director of Yei County Cdr Cyrus Kanyiti, welcomed participants and thanked the organizers for the conference. He informed that before citizens are guaranteed security, the issue of arms proliferation remains a challenge to the government. He accepted the challenge formulated by the church leaders and said that the security of the citizens is the responsibility of the government upon which the issue of disarmament would take course naturally. ‘If we can guarantee the security of the people, the people will not feel the need to hold a stick’. He underscored the need to adhere to human rights during the coming period of 6 years. He joined the former speakers to say that regional security is a must and that joint action with different stakeholders is necessary, but also cross border between the Congolese and Sudan communities. He encouraged all leaders to be advocates of peace to enable the communities to follow in their same footsteps.

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Presentations:

1. DDR presentation

Lt. Col. Monyjok Kong Monyjok, the Coordinator of Small Arms and Light Weapons Unit of the Demobilization Disarmament and Reintegration gave a presentation on its strategy.

Monyjok thanked the organizers Pax Christi Netherlands and the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Regional Conference for organizing the workshop, which he hoped, would go a long way in laying a base for solving the issue of small arms proliferation. He informed the participants that the Sudan has two DDR programs. One is under the government of national unity and serves operations of the Northern Sudan. The other one is under the GOSS and serves areas in the south of Sudan. The overall national coordinator, heading a council, reports back to the office of the presidency.

He informed that the overall goal of the GOSS DDR (Unit of Small Arms and Light Weapons – SALW) is the realization of arms control and management to create enabling environment for human security and sustainable peace and development.

The objectives of GOSS DDR (Small Arms and Light Weapons – SALW) are:

1) To provide conducive and sustainable atmosphere for peaceful co-existence and culture of peace through arms control and management in Southern Sudan. 2) Wider consultation with the military, police, civil society organizations on the DDR and SALW concepts in Southern Sudan. 3) To ensure development of legal framework governing the use and holding of SALW in Southern Sudan. 4) Arms reduction and control.

He underlined the importance the DDR programme attached to the dialogue with communities and this meeting was the first of its kind for the starting DDR programme. The DDR programme learned from experiences in Sierro Leone where the DDR was far more successful than in Liberia, where a buy back programme resulted in a profitable trade in small arms, but not in a reduction in the possession of firearms. Programmes of forced disarmament also did not work, as was shown in Uganda (Karamoja) and hence the need to call for wider consultations like this to come with one message and to create a structural dialogue. Once the appropriate steps to come to a framework for nation wide security have been identified, a legal framework need to be developed.

The following are the strategies and activities undertaken by the DDR to realize its objectives:

- Creation of awareness and sensitization of communities through meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, rallies etc on culture of peace and SALW control and management.

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- Community participation in decision-making and implementation of projects on SALW. Formation of peace committees. - Development of peace messages in English and local Sudanese languages. - Meetings, workshops, conferences etc. - Consultation with the SPLM’s department of legal and constitutional affairs. - To build support for peace and security through national, regional and community based arms control and interventions. These activities will be carried out according to the laws of Sudan and according to guiding principles agreed by the GOS and SPLM and the key among them “Do No Harm”.

Lt. Col. Monyjok informed participants that in realizing the DDR’s objectives on small arms and light weapons, the following activities have been undertaken by the Small Arms and Light weapons unit:

- Child soldiers demobilization initiatives. - Negotiations with the SPLM, Constitutional affairs to review the existing laws on small arms and light weapons. - The participation in the Nairobi Secretariat on small arms and light weapons.

NAIROBI DECLARATION ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS The DDR representative informed that besides the several initiatives towards th the control of arms proliferation in the African continent, on the 15 of March 2000 countries from the East Africa and Horn of Africa region signed a declaration, i.e. the Nairobi Declaration which objectives are as follows:

- Strengthen and harmonize legislation on the control of firearms - Strengthen the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies - Increase cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies - Collect and destroy weapons - Enhance the demobilization and re-integration of ex-combatants - Improve police/community relations - Enhance public education and awareness raising.

Col. Lt. Monyjok in reference to the Karamoja efforts of disarmament, noted that disarmament would only be effective if all the stakeholders are involved and this includes the neighboring countries. He also made the relation between development and small arms causing insecurity: ‘Where guns prevail, there is no development, people will not be willing to invest’. A participant from the Juba area living under the threat of the LRA told him that small arms were still a necessity for survival and they actually increased the security and therefore their chances for development were even dimmer without the arms. Questions were raised by participants on the reliability of the northern DDR programme and whether it was wise to disarm right now. While the southern DDR programme was

11 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 fully independent from the northern programme, it remained a question whether Janjaweed or Mbororo would be disarmed. While it was made clear that disarmament could only come on the basis of mutual understanding between government and civil society, it is unavoidable that legislation will be put in place that would apply to everybody. Monjyok mentioned as an example the defense of carrying arms in public places.

2. Report on Cross Border Crimes – Yambio Diocese:

Fr. Thomas Bagbiowia, the Tombura/Yambio diocesan Justice and Peace Coordinator gave a summary of the findings of a survey they carried out on crimes experienced along the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan. The survey covered the areas stretching from Nabiaapai, Sakure, Ndoromo to Bangagai.

Participants raised concerns on the efforts undertaken by the two governments DRC and Sudan towards the curbing of illegal poaching that has led to disappearance of wild animal from the Lontonto national park in Sudan. It was concluded that the immigration and customs at present function poorly, that there is no respect for human rights nor rule of law. Trafficking was mentioned to be a serious problem related to the border in Ezo and the Mbororo. At the same participants wanted to know the situation on the DRC side and in particular the political situation.

Mbororo Much discussion was given to the Mbororo of which everybody knew a little and there was clearly a need to know more. Mbororo were defined as a group of nomadic people, originally from Nigeria and ther known as the Fulani. It may be that these groups of Fulani returning from a Hadj in Mekka settled down in Darfur and Chad and married there. Like other groups they have been co-opted by the Khartoum regime which has armed them. The participants describe them as sometimes large groups (up to thousands) of which some wear professional desert army suits and with heavy

artillery and satellite phones. They move on horse, cattle and camel and always with their families. They are said to move to and from Darfur area into CAR and into Sudan and DRC. Some participants had encounters with some of their members, but they could not refer to any leaders among them and it is said that they hardly communicate with outsiders. While well armed they normally have good trade relations with the local population and they offer good bargains for their ware. There have never been violent encounters with them. The former commissioner of Yambio explained once that they had to be accepted on SPLM territory as they were Sudanese. Recently they walked into Juba and the local population coerced the authorities to push back the Mbororo. It was clear that their presence in conjunction with the recent move of the LRA to the DRC contributed to large uncertainty about the security situation in the region.

Through the findings of the survey, there is great need for intervention towards ensuring community security. Such interventions need to involve parties from the

12 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 countries of Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Sudan. Find a detailed report in appendix 3.

During after-workshop discussions the presenter also made clear that the issue of community security deals with the integration of soldiers but also of refugees. Feelings of insecurity were fostered by a lack of restored justice in many cases no reconciliation with those who have committed crimes during the periods of war and absence of civil law. It was recognized that reconciliation mechanisms are not clearly evident when to deal with reconciliation needs on a massive scale as for the Sudan.

3. Report on Cross-Border Crimes – Yei Diocese:

Mr. Samuel Bidal Ganya, a member of the Yei diocesan Justice and Peace gave a summary of the findings of a survey that was carried out within the border area that is served by the Catholic Diocese of Yei. The survey covered the Congo – Sudan border areas that are under the jurisdiction of the Yei Catholic Diocese.

This report’s findings pointed out the need of law and order within the community. All ethnic communities possess guns for reasons of security but also poaching and smuggling. After 21.00 hrs thieves are around Yei town and most people do not dare to go out. Rapes are not as frequent, but the fear is still there. The lack of law and order allows for overexploitation of the forest and citizens feel powerless because of the general possession of fire arms. In Yei people have experienced forceful displacement of people, lack of justice such that even minor conflicts lead to loss of lives. The present culture allows corruption even in the church itself due to greed and selfishness. There is a general devaluation of customs and traditions and in many instances killing leads to family breakdown. Because of the war period the communities a large number of orphans and widows. It is expected that the refugees coming from the DRC will be looted once in the Sudan and we were remembered how the People in the south have never in their lives witnessed a democratic government.

In order to break this culture of violence it is necessary to start to build a culture of peace through prayer, faithfulness, rebuilding of relations and trust. The presenter made it clear that community security is not just about law and order, but also about attitude and values fostered by the church. Governance by the rule of law would lead into stable community security. Demobilisation of soldiers would require self-help projects and the J&P committees have developed material for peace education. The new government should be one to lead us into this change and it should be a government of service and not one of coercion. See detailed report in appendix 4.

4. Survey From Garamba (Congo) And Lontoto (Sudan) National Parks:

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Mr. Edwin Ruigrok of the Pax Christi Netherlands, one of the facilitators shared the following survey that was carried by the Congolese on the problems experienced along the Sudanese – Congo border.

Main Problems:

Garamba National Park: 1. Proliferation of small arms (UgShs. 30,000.00 – Rifle, UgShs.1,000.00 – 8-10 cartridges). 2. No collaboration between the 2 sides. 3. Many refugees in the park. 4. Presence of deserted soldiers (Sudan and Congo). 5. Permeability of border. 6. Poaching by Mbororo on horseback.

Lontoto: 1. IDPs/Refugees: No sense of ownership – no conservation 2. Small Arms and Light Weapons among population. 3. Poaching at large scale. 4. Both heavily arms poachers, SPLA – Ivory and rhino horns.

Solutions to the Problems: 1. Cooperation on both sides on small arms and disarmament, demobilization and re-integration. 2. Participatory management of parks. 3. Repatriation of refugees. 4. Diplomatic relations between Congo – GOSS. 5. Harder control on small arms markets and closing down of: Nebiapayi, Nongoli, Doruma, Tore, and others. 6. Stopping of poaching by Mbororo by the 2 governments. 7. Coordinated monitoring on poaching/wildlife. 8. Awareness raising on migration laws.

Reaction to the DRC Survey:

One of the participants Jimmy, the acting senior wild life officer of the SPLM informed that in June, 2005, he was invited to held a 12 day meetings with his Congolese counterparts to solve the problems experienced along the border. The above recommendations were part of their conclusions. One of the problems was disappearance of wild animals from the Sudanese that are believed to cross over to the Congo side due to poaching from the Sudanese side. They resolved that the Sudanese side tighten security along the border in a bid to stop the poaching along the border. Another solution reached is to have the governments from the two sides to negotiate on strategies to build up security along the borders. The control of small arms proliferation was a major concern during this meeting. Most poachers entering the parks are Sudanese. The disappearance of animals to Congo is due to the small area covered by Lantoto and the presence of Sudanese IDPs in the park.

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The Congolese have built up security along their parks by responding to slight shooting with helicopter gunships. However, the trade in ivory is carried out by the Congolese who take ivory into Sudan and back into Congo.

The movement of LRA to Congo was identified as a new challenge in Garamba National Parks and the neighboring communities. The control of small arms proliferation has to take another approach.

5. The history of small arms proliferation in the region: (By Mr. Edwin Ruigrok, Pax Christi – Netherlands)

The thrust of his presentation5 was to point at the intricate relationship between the geopolitical and ethno political machinations that caused the region to be a hotspot of conflict. While Museveni has taken a position for non-interference in the SPLA-Khartoum war, he was considered to be the most important stronghold and ally for the SPLA. Hence Khartoum started supporting the several local movements in the northern Uganda (in particular LSA/LRA) and Zaire (Allied Democratic Force, a coalition of anti-Museveni movements; Former Uganda National Army, the Uganda National Rescue Front and the West Nile bank Liberation Front). Consequently Museveni, when convinced that his policy did not work, decided to support movements inside Zaire, that had grudges against Mobutu and later Kabila. The Ugandan forces were after the overthrow of the Hutu regime in Rwanda supported by the Rwandese Patriotic Front, while the fled Interahamwe got support from the Khartoum regime. Ugandan troops have moved deep into Congo, but also SPLA and Khartoum have entered into the area of Haut-Uele, in particular the national park of Garamba. Relevant in the context of the original theme of good neighbourliness with the Congolese was the incursion by the SPLA on the 25th of September 1998 when its army led by Cdr Abu John occupied Dungu. Dungu was completely looted and even the local power station was dismantled and brought to Yambio.

The absence of the state in this part of Congo is almost absolute and has resulted in a free play of criminal actors. It is therefore not surprising that the LRA has found a new haven here. While Western Equatoria has been exempted from LRA atrocities, this could well change in the near future.

It was felt by the participants that it was difficult from their perspective to deal with these geopolitical machinations. It was mentioned though that if no solutions can be

5 Based on Gerard Prunier, Rebel movements and proxy warfare: Uganda, Sudan and the Congo (1986-1999), in African affairs. Royal African Society 103/412. p359-383

15 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 found to solve the problem directly then perhaps indirectly: during the next presentation its was explained how the community of Lomega and other in that area around Juba have carried out surveys, had reports written on the atrocities carried out by the LRA, and are now considering suing the LRA in front of the International Criminal Court.

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6. Addressing insecurity in Eastern Equatoria: By Rev. Paul Yugusuk, Episcopal Church of Sudan

Rev. Paul Yugusuk who heads a program working towards the control of small arms control in this part of Southern Sudan gave a briefing on the project’s activities. The program called Small Arms South Sudan is run by the Episcopal Church of Sudan and was initiated as a follow up of two international conferences on arms proliferation held in Jinja and Eldoret in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

The program covers the areas of Magwi and part of Juba Counties that served as front lines during the war period; it marks the boundary of both the SPLM and GOS. Rev. Paul informed participants that even after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the area covered by the project still experiences high insecurity due to the continued attacks by the LRA.

Program Strategy:

The South Sudan Small Arms Program has emphasized on community participation since its inception. The program emphasizes on control and management of arms than disarmament, since the later will leave the community vulnerable to the LRA attacks. The LRA has left over 400 victims killed over the past 12 years.

The program has divided its activities into three units for ease of management and operations:

Peace Committees: This forms the traditional structures of maintaining law and order. The peace committee’s work is to mediate and arbitrate and it comprises of the peace makers and community elders. Through the peace committees, the program has managed to control the movement of guns as they have compiled a list entailing the number of existing guns as well as the owners. On the other hand, the peace committees have the responsibility of acquiring arms from the SPLM/A on behalf of the community when need arises.

Peace Mobilizers: The peace mobilizers are youth whom the program has trained in conflict transformation. Their role in the program is to be alert on the LRA activities and report the same to the community through the peace committees, monitor the illegal movement of arms to the peace committee and liaise with the relevant authorities in security surveillance.

Community Policing: The community police are volunteers who have been trained in community security. Their role is to monitor and report or at times arrest those involved in activities that pose a security threat to the community. The community police also hand over the LRA who surrender to the SPLM.

Rev. Paul Yugusuk informed the participants that he carried out a research in June, 2005 on illicit arms in Juba, Gumbo and Terekeka. The research found out that the Government of Sudan is involved in the trafficking of small arms that is coordinated by

17 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 an Islamic Relief organization that is based in Juba. The research further established that the returns from the trafficking supports the LRA.

He recommended a survey on how the community would like the disarmament to be carried out. Such a survey should involve those members of the community who are the main stakeholders. He mentioned in reaction to the failure of the buying back programme in Liberia that compensation for the costs that were made by the communities should be considered. After so many years that the communities have taken care of their own security, the communities may expect a word of gratitude of the government that has failed to do so.

REACTION ON PAUL’S PRESENTATION:

The participants raised concern about the community retaining the arms. Paul responded by informing the participants that the community is reluctant to hand over the arms to the government because the area is still insecure due to the frequent attacks by the LRA. Paul mentioned that registration of arms would not help as people do not want to register as for the same reason that they do not wish to disarm at the present conditions. Peace committees could facilitate a traditional registration where the chief, ‘the peace maker’ would know by heart who is possessing how many guns.

The participants felt that before law and order is in place, disarmament would be impossible. And for the case of Juba, and perhaps Yei and Yambio in the near future, the LRA problem must be solved.

7. THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN CONTROLLING OF SMALL ARMS:

Control Arms Campaign (CAC) was formed through joint efforts of IANSA, OXFAM and Amnesty International. The formation was in response to the worldwide violence that involves the use of small arms and light weapons. The CAC’s goals are to strife for stronger regulations and control of small arms and light weapons as well as support people throughout the world to deal with the insecurity caused by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. In order to reach it’s goals, the CAC has introduced a campaign tool called the million faces petition.

Micha noted that due to slow implementation of international declaration on the SALW control and management by the respective governments, the strategy needs to take a different perspective. The control initiatives would be better implemented if the community takes the responsibility through the local organizations. A link between the governments and the community is crucial in the campaign on community security. Such a link could be through the development of a IANSA methodology in Sudan. During the group discussions the suggestion to formulate South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms was identified.

18 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005

Group Discussions: Problems and Action:

Local: Group 1 (Women) Group II (Men) Group III (Men) What are the five most common security problems? Prioritize the problems.

1. Selling of ammunitions at the border, 1. Lack of awareness on the dangers posed 1. Arms trafficking. 2. Insecurity at the border, by availability of small arms (light 2. Violation of human rights. 3. Untrained/corrupt personnel at the border. weapons) in the communities. 3. Raping and forced marriage. 4. Raping of women and girls. 2. Small arms are sources of wealth to some 4. Looting/robbery. 5. Drug dealers at the border. people. 3. Lack of commitment from the government to control arms proliferation and trafficking. 4. Slow process due to logistical difficulties in re-organizing the security forces. 5. Lack of proper media to inform people and inaccessibility to most parts of South Sudan. Steps to be taken in restoring security. i.e as a chief, religious leader.

1. There should be strictness at the 1. Make consultation with community 1. Reporting to the authority by the border: leaders and Community service communities through their leaders. 2. Disarming of the communities. organizations (Justice and Peace 2. Sensitization programme on arms 3. To create job opportunities to make departments). trafficking should be carried out through the people busy. 2. Organize and conduct meetings, meetings, seminars, churches etc. 4. Church leaders should talk about the workshops, seminars etc. 3. Identification and registration of those issues and encourage the image of 3. Responsible department; justice and possessing the arms. God. peace with key actors. 4. Law enforcement and awareness on 5. Deploy multi-lingual personnel at the 4. Strengthening border controls to avoid human rights and duties. border. proliferation and trafficking by the 5. The rule of law should be applied. 6. Develop proper identification government. 6. Customary laws should be applied

19 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005

documents, 5. Communities to advocate for Laws and a. on the concept of the couple. 7. To have cross border meetings and lobby for policies that stop possession 7. - Job opportunities to be created. reconciliation. of small arms. - Income generating activities. 8. To deploy security personnel at the 6. Community consultation with the 8. Capacity building. borders. government to ensure that security 9. Assessment by different bodies to forces are restricted to camps. know the problem and find solutions. 7. Advocacy for donor support by the 10. Train all persons deployed at the government and churches for border with the relevant skills. establishment of media systems; FM 11. Accountability and transparency should radios, newspapers, music, drama, be maintained by all responsible songs etc in local languages persons. 12. Policies should be put in place and well implemented. 13. More awareness on human rights should be emphasized. 14. Charges following raping should be put in place 15. Create awareness on the importance of expressing/freedom to express what had happened to the person. 16. Gender awareness. 17. Strict follow up/records of drugs in all health facilities. 18. Workers should be honest in their work. 19. Salaries should reach the workers at the right time. 20. Community to report any dealers in drugs. 21. There should be a clear structure in health facilities to avoid corruption.

20 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005

Regional: Group 1 – Women Group II Group III What are the 5 most prominent outside factors/actors affecting community security. Prioritize the problems

1. Lords Resistance Army (LRA)’s operations 1. Lack of respect for the policy of non- 1. The armed struggle in Congo and that lead to abduction, looting, raping and interference with other country’s affairs in Uganda’s Lords Resistance Army. killing. the East African Region. 2. Different political ideologies. 2. Internally Displaced Persons and other 2. Military minded leaders in most of the 3. Presence of Ambororo. problems like witchcraft. African countries made the regions to 4. Arms trafficking. 3. Integration become unstable and undemocratic. 5. The heavy taxation across the border; 4. Rural-urban migration. 3. Cultural clash between the locals and IDPs white color crimes i.e. tax evasion, which enhances inter-ethnic animosity. unnecessary/excessive or illegal taxation. 4. The destructive roaming of the Ambororo, they are playing on the natural resources all with the support of some elements from Khartoum government. 5. The improper distribution/management of relief aid disturbs the social-economic structure of the community. What can communities do to address these factors/actors. 1. Influencing the government to provide 1. The governments of Sudan and 1. The community should influence the security through local authorities. Democratic Republic of Congo to intervene international committee to enforce working 2. Seek for international intervention. on the LRA’s activities and returned the mechanism of respecting international 3. Networking within the neighboring abducted children. The Khartoum laws through advocacy and media. countries towards reconciliation. government should be asked to stop 2. Community to enhance advocacy for 4. Sensitization of the community on ideology supporting the LRA. democracy, good government and rule of that is a threat to them. 2. Assessment on priorities should be carried law. 5. Assessment is to be carried out.

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out by the communities to enable the 3. The community should organize inter- 6. They are to be repatriated back. government strategize on interventions. community meetings to redress conflicts 7. Control in the borders while networking is 3. The government should work towards the resulting from cultural clash. going on. provision of basic needs to the citizens i.e. 4. The community should appeal to the 8. Local authorities and the two governments water, heath. government (SPLM) to take appropriate meet and then resolve the issue. The 4. Ensure security within the communities. action. authorities and government to address the 5. Leaders to solve conflicts. 5. The community to appeal to the NGO problem of White color crimes; Tax 6. Leaders to dialogue on resettlement of concern with relief evasion, unnecessary/excessive and illegal returnees/IDPS. distribution/management to involve their taxation. 7. Proper assessment by the government to leaders in the distribution/management. identify the different needs and fears to be 6. There should be monitoring and evaluation able to plan well. by government, NGO and the community. 8. Sensitization/awareness should be done in the communities to welcome integration. 9. Co-existing projects be created to promote integration. 10. Consultation to different departments to avoid making mistake. 11. To provide capacity building to different CBOs. 12. To have different and good approaches in dealing with integration issues. 13. Increase community participation in all processes of development. 14. Resolve conflicts in communities. 15. Government should reach services to the rural areas. 16. Repair of feeder roads to allow business. 17. Provide loans/credits to people in rural areas. 18. To provide people with relevant information at the right time. 19. To give capacity building to people in the rural areas.

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Action plans:

Yei – Group: S/No. Problem Responsible Activities Target Group Time-Frame 1. Lack of awareness on the DDR + Already trained -Prepare material training Youth, CBOs, Minimum 1 year dangers of SALW person, schools, CBOs -Produce radio/TV programs. women and – 3 years. and Churches -Make drama, poems, songs, security organs. stories. -Conduct seminars, workshop etc. 2. Lack of commitment by The Government of -Establishment of a foreign -Sudan, Uganda, 3 years 2006 - government to control arms Southern Sudan and the diplomatic relationships with Congo and the 2009 proliferation and trafficking. locals. neighbor. International -Enable networking. community. -Deployment of skill immigration and customs personnel. 3. Violation of human rights. -Locals & leaders. -- -Mobilization of the community Youth, CBOs, 2 years 2006- Judiciary. for civic education. Church leader, 2008 - Observing the independence school children of the court. and the organized forces. 4. Absence of the Congolese SCBRC/Pax Christi Organize for a review workshop Participants from March, 2006 participants. involving the Congo the DRC and participants. Sudanese participants.

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Tombura Diocese for Yambio, Maridi, Ezo and S/Yobu):

S/No. Activities By Whom Target Group How Where When 1. Meetings with: J & P coordinator -Armed forces, By involving the Yambio October, 2005 Bishop and church and the members. - Local population; government, leaders, women groups, Church leaders State governors community and the Local authorities leaders and youth. community. at county level. 2. Assessment on Justice and peace Chiefs, community Through Maridi, Yambio, November, 2005 political, socio- coordinator, parish leaders and the discussion, Ezo and S/Yubu economical and priests and J&P local population. meetings and situation analysis. members. interviews. 3. Project proposal The coordinator The willing partner Through writing Yambio November 2005. writing. and executive (Donor agency). and recommended members. by the bishop. 4. Creating, Church leaders, Armed forces, Through From Maridi to December, 2005. awareness on Local authorities, Local population, meetings, Nagero. small arms CBO’s. Chiefs etc. preaching and trafficking and it’s discussions. danger. 5. Workshop;, J & P coordinator, - Armed forces, -Through Maridi, Yambio After six months seminars, members and - Local authorities, invitations and Ezo or the arrival of conference. church leaders. - Civil population, -Provision of the fund, June Community transportation, 2006 leaders etc. accommodation and feeding. 6. Evaluation and Church and civil Before planning. authorities. December, 2006

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NGOs Sector, representatives from the WHO, UNHCR, Shalom Sudan, Small Arms Control South Sudan:

Objective:

1. To join the IANSA network 2. To create awareness on illicit trade and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

S/No. Activities How Who When Where 1. Establishment of Resolution of Yambio, Ezo, Maridi, 30th September, 2005 NPA CD Yei IANSA South Sudan Community safety Yei and Tombura, Chapter. conference NGO. 2. Subscription to IANSA Contacts through IANSA, South Sudan One week (1st week NOW Network, Yei internet. Chapter. of October, 2005) 3. Reports to members Through internet and Shalom Sudan 3rd and 4th October Juba letters etc. 2005. 4. Awareness creating Meetings Community 2nd week of Nov. to Tombura, Ezo, Maridi, meeting leaders/governmental 1st week of Yei, Yambio leaders. December, 2005. 5. Dissemination and Through internet and IANSA South Sudan 2nd and 4th week of Tombura, Ezo, Maridi, recommendations of letters. members. Dec. 2005. Yei, Yambio. (No.4). 6. Assessment on Meetings. Communities March 2006. Yei, Tombura, Ezo, strategies of Maridi and Yambio. disarmament. 7. Dissemination of the Contacts/letters. IANSA members, 1st week April, 2006. Yei, Tombura, Ezo, findings. South Sudan. Maridi and Yambio

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CLOSING REMARKS:

Mr. Edwin Ruigrok informed that Pax Christi is an International Peace movement that operates in over 40 countries including Sudan. Pax Christi also works in the areas of Economic Conflicts; leads a coalition of 80 NGOs on the issue of oil in Sudan for the government to adhere to certain principles the oil issue in the Sudan. This is because oil has been fueling war in the Sudan. Pax Christi also works in the area of human rights and media; training on human rights. It also works towards bringing communities that are at war together.

Pax Christi as an international peace movement would like to join further with partners in the Sudan to make action for peace. This event was a good example to use analysis and concrete action planning. We know that it does not stop here; this is just a beginning. Pax Christi will continue to support the SCBRC to support you and work together till community peace will be achieved.

Mr. Monyjok, once again thanked the organizers of the conference. He felt that the workshop has achieved it’s objectives and the DDR will note this and work together with the organizers towards the achievement of it’s objectives. Other participants expressed their willingness in taking part in the plans towards the achievement of the DDR objectives. They urged the organizers and those responsible in implementing the recommendations to act in time and hoped that another workshop would be held to evaluate what has been done and any other follow-ups. They requested Pax Christi to help with resources to enable the implementation of the recommendations. The unfair representation of women in the workshop was identified as a challenge and the participants felt it would be wise if gender balance in any future conference is addressed.

Mr. Robert Ladu noted with concern that most of the young people are still idling when time had come for them to engage in developing their country. He urged all the participants to work hard for the development of the country and avoid tribalism.

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CONCLUSIONS:

During this workshop very quickly a common ground was found between the civil society and the SPLM representatives on the necessity for dialogue with the communities and that for any successful disarmament programme the communities need to set the conditions.

The general situation along the border was actually disastrous with a near absence of immigration and customs and where present it was said to be corrupt. Recommendations to the communities themselves and to the government were formulated during the group discussions on the basis of self identified and prioritized problems. Again on the basis of those recommendations three action plans were formulated. It is expected that the Justice and Peace committees will take along this report and discuss it with their members to further identify actions next to the actions identified at the workshop. Pax Christi Netherlands has committed itself to continuing supporting the SCBRC in assisting the J&P committees in their work. There was a broad support for further meetings with the Congolese counterparts. It was suggested to have these meetings on a smaller scale like 5 representatives from Yei to meet with 5 representatives from Mahagi and in Yambio to meet with those from Dungu diocese. This will be discussed in the their respective dioceses.

At present the new government is not yet formed and all lobby actions could only start after the new players are on their posts. At that time it is expected that the results from this workshop can be used to formulate clear messages to the GOSS.

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Appendices

Appendix 1: Programme

Community security: Communities meeting the challenges of armed violence in the Sudan & DR Congo border region

DAY 1 Wednesday 28 September Chair Edwin

Introductory notes form the chair 8.30 welcome, opening and key note speech bishop of Yei 8.40 key note speech Mr. Monyjok DDR rep SPLM 9.00 Programme outline (Robert) 9.20 Presentation participants and their expectations 9.30

Break 10.30

Presentation by diocese of Yambio-Tambura 11.00 • Ezo • Maridi • Yambio Questions & discussion 11.30 Presentation diocese of Yei 11.50 Questions & discussion 12.20

Lunch 12.40

Three groups (depending on total nr. partic) 14.00 - What are the 5 most prominent problems? - Prioritise these problems - What can communities do to tackle them?

Tea break 15.30

Reporting back 1 16.00 Q&D Reporting back 2 16.15 Q&D Reporting back 3 16.30 Q&D

Plenary debate 16.45

Closure 17.30

DAY 2 Thursday 29th September: the regional context

28 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 morning session Robert

Recollecting day 1 and introducing day 2 by Chair 8.30 ER on regional processes of insecurity in historical perspective 8.45 Q&D

Three groups on outside influence on community safety 9.30 - What are the 5 most prominent outside factors/actors affecting CS? - Prioritise these problems - What can communities do to address these factors/actors?

Coffee break 10.30

Reporting back 1 11.00 Q&D Reporting back 2 11.15 Q&D Reporting back 3 11.30 Q&D

Plenary debate: 11.45

Lunch break 12.30 afternoon session Forum discussion on How to re-engage with the state to build community safety? 14.00 tea break 15.30

Wrap-up session 16.00 closure 17.00

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Day 3: Friday 30th September: Coalition Building for Action: Morning session: Robert

Recollecting day 1 and introducing day 2 by participants 8.30 Micha: The international response: the Control Arms Campaign 9.00 Q&D

Three groups on outside influence on community safety 9.30 - How can my community benefit form the CAC? - What are the best three action forms for my community to initiate? - What is needed for you to initiate these actions? - Choose one and make a rough working plan including who does what when with whom?

Coffee Break 10.30

Reporting back 1 11.00 Q&D Reporting back 2 11.15 Q&D Reporting back 3 11.30 Q&D

Plenary debate: 11.45

Lunch Break 12.30

Draft closing statement / feasible recommendations 14.00 • To Churches • To local civil organisations • To International civil organisations • To State Actors • To International State Actors • To Congolese

Closing remarks bishop of Yei 1600

Reception and dinner 1630

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Appendix 2: List of Participants:

1. H. L. Erkolano L. Tombe - Catholic Diocese - Yei 2. H. L. Hilary Adeba - Episcopal Church - Yei 3. Angelina Mario - Secretary of political Affairs (EWA) 4. Malish Allen - Sudan Christian University 5. Martin Lumori Ezekiel - J & P, Catholic Church - Yei 6. Bennet Taban - Clerk – Yei Payam 7. Luka Vero - J & P Secretary – Catholic Church - Yambio 8. Fr. Lino Leone - Chairman ICCM – Catholic Church Yambio 9. Alex Ade - Chief – Otgo Payam 10. Eva Gordon - WHO – Field Supervisor 11. Deru Sylivia Nefisa - UNHCR – Community Services 12. Fr. Santo Gaba - Catholic Church - Yambio 13. Mr. Paul Ebatata - Chairperson – Ezo County, Yambio 14. Filbert Fikir - Representative – Ezo County 15. Benty M. Kpiosa - Secretary – Youth, RCC - Yambio 16. Fr. Thomas Bagbiowia - J & P Coordinator – Yambio RCC 17. Edwin Ruigrok - Program Leader – Pax Christi Netherlands 18. Robert Ladu Luki - J & P Coordinator - SCBRC 19. Samuel Bidal Ganya - J & P member - CDOY 20. Emma Meli James - Yei 21. Eliaba Diko Gwolo - Elder - CDOY 22. Paul Yugusuk - Small Arms Control – South Sudan 23. Jimmy Monoja Marle - ACT/Director Wildlife, Yei 24. Dow Blu - ECS 25. Batali James - Yei 26. Dinah Makori - SCBRC 27. Micha Hollestelle - Policy advisor Pax Christi Netherlands

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Appendix 3: Report on cross-border crimes - Tombura/Yambio Diocese: By Fr. T. Bagbiowia, J&P Coordinator - Diocese of Tombura/Yambio.

Introduction:

Tombura/Yambio Diocese is a Catholic Diocese, which borders DRC and CAR. a) Crimes:

1) Small arms proliferation 2) Bartering in guns with goods, 3) Selling of ammunition, 4) Killing people and escaping 5) Escaping with wives or children. Women trafficking. 6) Theft, smuggling of stolen goods, 7) Insecurity at the border. 8) Untrained and corrupted personnel at the border. 9) Heavy taxes. 10) Illegal trading of minerals; gold, diamond. 11) Drug dealers. 12) Looting at border. 13) High dowry. 14) Raping and confinement of girls and women. 15) Forced marriages. b) By Whom:

1) Armed forces. 2) Traders. 3) Local authorities. 4) Local population. 5) Group of gangs who have networks. c) Area of Operation:

1) International boarders; Congo Sudan and Central Africa Republic. 2) Nabiaapai, Sakure, Ndoromo, Bangagai.

Recommendations:

1. Security be tight at the border. 2. Military forces be transferred to their respected zones and fire-arms be kept in one place. 3. Local administrators at both borders, such as chiefs, commissioners have to come together for dialogue and develop a system on cross-border small arms proliferation. 4. Trained personnel be deployed to the border. 5. Criminals be arrested and returned to their country of origin. 6. Legal documents be issued to the travelers with official reasons for the entry. 7. Taxes policy be revised.

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8. Job opportunities be revised. 9. Job opportunities be created. 10. There should be strong check points.

Appendix 4: Report on Cross-Border Crimes – Yei Diocese: By Samuel Bidal Ganya, J&P Member - Diocese of Yei.

Background:

In the beginning of March this year, during SCBRC – Inter-Diocesan J & P Strategic Plan workshop, we made this issue one of our priorities to be urgently launched as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has been signed to end the war in our country.

Only through John Sebit, the newly recruited into the Secretariat of Justice and Peace SCBRC office, one of us happened to know that this program has won support from Pax Christi for implementation in August this year.

Due to other good reasons it was postponed to this time.

Actually, the Church is the conscience of society and it is expected to spell out what is good/bad for the well-being of the people living there!

But it was not surprising that Robert the coordinator found our group without any written findings!

We thank God that he arrived four days earlier making us able to come with at least something to report out of our own risk, because we don’t have an office, and an authority to back us, for we doubt whether it is the system for the conduct of these programs!

Our Goal:

Realization and sustainability of the CPA in Yei in particular and in the Sudan in general.

Objectives:

1. Arms and ammunition are to be controlled and handled by those responsible for them. 2. The people must be governed by the rule of law.

Methodology:

Random sampling technique to make the survey fair we insured that every one has an equal chance of being interviewed on the item concerning:

- Use of guns

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- Common crimes across the border - Issue of poaching - Mobilization and disarmament. - Effect of the war n the population of the two countries.

We targeted the youth, the armed forces, administrators, elders, Church traders, etc.

Tribes along the Congo/Sudan Border:

The following are the tribes who occupy the Sudan/Congo border:

1) Kakwa, 2) Keliko/Lugbara, 3) Fojulu, 4) Mundu, 5) Baaka, 6) Avokaya, 7) Logo, 8) Azande, 9) Balanda.

Use of Guns:

For many years, these people possessed guns for poaching purposes and at times for smuggling goods.

Common Crimes caused by Small Arms Across these Borders:

Both the civil society and the soldiers do these crimes during liberation movements in the two countries also. The crimes include:

- Looting and armed robberies, - Raids, - Intimidation of women for sex, causing rampant raping, - Torturing of innocent people, - Over exploitation of resources, natural, artificial and even human, - Over taxation promoting smuggling, - Disobedience to the rule of law, - Armed trafficking by cattle traders, - Rebellious attacks, - Destruction of both human lives and properties, - Forceful displacements of people and wild animals.

Effects of the uncontrolled arms:

- Lack of justice, absence of peace, - The rule of law becomes nominal while the guns becomes the order of the day.

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- Minor disputes lead to lose of human lives or properties. - Robbery, looting, raping, becomes games. - Grabbing of other people’s land and property is very common. - Corruption has developed very high in all fields, such that transparency and accountability becomes none existence due to greed and selfishness. - Level of illiteracy and ignorance especially on human rights is very high. - Poor governance is promoted through nepotism, tribalism and segregation creating disunity. - Disappearance of the wild animals in these places and the expansion of deforestation. - Devaluation of some customs and traditions of the cultures of our people causing a lot of family break ups. - HIV/AIDS pandemic has spread very rapidly. - Bribery has grown very high. - Increased number of vulnerable groups; widows, orphans and disabled. - Scarcity of agricultural inputs causing insufficient production. - Forceful early marriages are prevalent. - High level of poverty making the people very miserable and always dependent.

Anticipated Effects:

- Refugee settlements could be looted during repatriation processes. - Harassment and rampant killing of people shall be experienced during election periods. - Many misguided armed militia groups shall cause genocide in the name of liberation.

Some Other Critical Issues That May Affect The Small Arms’ Control:

With the Comprehensive Peace Agreement singed in January 9th, 2005, the people of South Sudan who have felt the effects of the war in many and different ways still have fear and much doubt about the reality and sustainability of this peace. This is because:

- Because the army, the police, the prisons warders, the wild life forces are not yet mobilized. - Demobilization and re-integration processes are potential areas of conflicts if not handled well. - The many civil wars in the region have accumulated a lot of illegally possessed firearms and ammunitions. - Successive military regimes and the subsequent armed struggles have made the gun to substitute the Rule of Law. - There is a threat of religious expansion and racial cleansing.

Recommendations:

- Immediate mobilization and integration be honestly, conducted as required by the constitution, with salary payment availed.

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- Demobilized soldiers must be given either literacy and numeracy or functional reduction with allowances, to prepare them for some project generating activities while those with skills already be empowered to initiate self-help projects. - Both the government and the Church should ensure the establishment of functional Justice and peace departments/commissions whose responsibility is with the collaboration of the ministry/department of education prepare and develop materials for peace education and conduct trainings to all the people. - This peace education shall include civil and human rights and duties awareness programs. - The government should enforce a policy of employment where the right person is recruited to the right job. - Salaries be made appropriately to meet the basic family needs of the workers. - All powers in whatever levels must be exercised in accordance with and conditioned by the rule of law; and the citizens must not be exposed to the arbitrary will of the people who wield the power of the government. - Each governmental action must derive its origin from the law and not from the feeling of the people in power. - As it is a sensitive time of transformation from the culture of war and violence to the culture of peace and reciprocal respect, the people today wanted a government that works in accordance to constitutional law, which is just and a trustee of the public interest of it’s people. - A government that promotes equality before the law, that is consistently and equally applies to all the citizens/people. Status like birth, marriage, social status, religion, political, economic or intellectual importance must not be allowed to interfere with the administration of the law. - Independence of the judiciary must be enhanced. - Rights of the individual are to be protected.

With these recommendations, when put into practice accordingly, it shall be a reality that illegal arms will have no meaning or importance to the ones possessing them, then an intervention of collecting them with a reasonable amount of money to compensate the bearer will most likely minimize the level of crimes caused by small arms and illegal ammunitions.

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Appendix 5: Controlling Small Arms as international coalition By Mr. Micha Hollestelle

Introduction:

In 2003 IANSA, OXFAM en Amnesty International joined forces to curb the worldwide problem of armed violence involving Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The result is known as the Control Arms Campaign (CAC), www.controlarms.org. The CAC has two thematic courses and one campaign general tool: 1. The strife for stronger regulations and control aimed to result in a legally binding International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) 2. Assist and otherwise support people around the world to deal with community insecurity caused by SALW. 3. The million faces petition

Many people may feel such campaigns battles are being fought out over their heads. They perceive it as something the head offices of the big organisations like OXFAM and Amnesty International attend to. For how can small grass root organizations lobby the UN, lobby at international levels during high end UN meetings in New York or Geneva? Well, no matter what happens in New York or Geneva, all is futile if not for the worldwide grass root action on SALW. The quintessential element of any world wide coalition are the people addressing the problems in their community, who work together with their local government, who lobby their national government or even their regional government. Indeed the local coalitions of women, parishes and children working in their communities are the backbone of the CAC. Getting the message out to the world, starts on the grass root level. International organisations can only pick-up on and support these actions, but they can never do anything without a constituency of communities, of people who really suffer from and work on SALW.

ATT:

While governments and an occasional NGO tends to place to much trust in paper regardless of history, many know rules and paper are more patient than the militia men with the illegal guns in your village. Indeed, the cause for tight (inter)national regulation on all aspects of SALW should never be done while losing sight of the greater ordeal: armed violence taking the lives of more than thousand people per day. This means while striving for tighter laws, one should never strive for laws that cannot be implemented. Hence, efforts are made to strengthen law enforcement and the reform of the security sector. Therefore, these days both are or should be indispensable elements of peace arrangements and of Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR)

Community Security:

By also focussing on community insecurity, the CAC aims to have more resources allocated to actually curb the everyday-armed mayhem in communities. Moreover, the

37 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 message is sent out to the international community that in the end it is not about fewer weapons but about safer people! For what is the value of ten weapons less if not one live is saved?

CAC as a coalition aims to contribute to community safety by working as a coalition. All those who join CAC commit themselves to allocate resources to community safety, either direct like community based organisations and their supporters do, or indirect through network support, research, training and advocacy. All of which is of course liable to available resources. However, on a world scale, quite a lot of money is spent on security and arms control. The real question is how to get these resources to the right places?

Much can be realised by increasing synergy between efforts on all levels and moreover, between levels. As pointed out before, for coercive action on SALW information needs to reach all the right people. This means the information from community problems and community actions needs to find the right desks of governments, international organisations and most of all to the peers of the CAC. That way, communities working on SALW can find the much needed support from others; others with expertise or other resources.

What's more, testimonies from communities about their work and their situations are, as said, also quintessential for others working in the CAC not only to respond to the direct needs of these communities. These reports are necessary for advocacy, to indeed bring authentic accounts of suffering and brave successes to eyes of the international community.

Million Faces Petition:

This petition is more than just a signature: it is a photo petition. The CAC aims to present over a million faces to the UN in July 2006. Given the current numbers, much needs to be done still. By showing the faces of the people who want arms to be controlled, the CAC wants to show that community security and the ATT is widely supported around the planet. Pictures are needed from al countries all over the world. If cameras are not available, people can draw themselves. Do note that some requirement apply to validate photos and drawings.

NOVIB, the Dutch OXFAM has produced panels depicting famous violent movie figures like Rambo. Where the face should be, the panels are open so that people can stick their head through and have their picture taken. These panels come combined with small card to be filled in by the people who have their photos taken. Pax Christi can provide you with these panels to work with. However, you as well engage a local painter to make a portrait panel of famous person that is easily recognised by locals.

What can you do?

• The simple part: join the CAC! While in the end everybody contributing to community safety is member of the CAC unless the state otherwise, registering as a member is helpful for yourself as well as for the CAC as a whole. For you the

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benefits is being in the loop of things. Have information reach you, make sure you can be found by others, share you experiences so that others can learn from them, etc. The easy way to register is by simply become an IANSA member or even start you local IANSA affiliate network. Your local chapter of IANSA, RECAAL, can provide further information. Also see www.iansa.org • Use the logo of the CAC to show to everyone that you are not alone but instead backed by hundreds of other organisations representing millions of people over the planet. • Use panels to make pictures for the Million Faces petition. • Conduct simple surveys in your community and so collect crucial information on underlying cause of insecurity and armed violence. Templates, including training modules, for such surveys can be provided by Pax Christi on request. It is important not to only address facts; perceptions are just as important. For, if people perceive things as real, they will be real in their consequences. Also, be sure to involve the whole community: that means all organisations, and a fair and equal representation of men, women and children alike. • Share the findings with the CAC and ask for support, if needed, to process the data into a report. Ask Pax Christi to help you with this. • Analyse the findings with the community; Rally up people and discuss the findings and solutions to the problems. When rallying up it is wise to connect to regular community meetings like church mass etc. As such, people only need to make the trip once. This meting serves for awareness raising and for developing strategies. • In addition, on community level, it usually wise to address the broader insecurity issues. It is important that people are invited to prioritise the issues of insecurity that need to be tackled instead of telling them what to do. Equally important is to do decent reporting on this meeting. Again, share this information with the CAC. • Present and discuss, where possible, these findings and recommendations with local government and UN representatives. Document and report these discussions. Make sure community members who have not been present at these meeting are nevertheless well informed on results. • Write pamphlets for gun control in your community and have ‘m signed by as many people as possible. Have other communities do the same. • Use the materials made available by the CAC and/or ask others to make these materials available to your group. • Use templates letters of the CAC to send to your government and let the CAC know what whether your government answered and if so what. • Let other CAC help you in establishing advocacy and follow up based on your actions and your problems. Most of the works needs more people than money to be done. What is needed is for you to have the right information. Joining the CAC can connect you wit that information

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Appendix 6: Terms of Reference - Survey

Terms of Reference for a study on arms proliferation and arms trafficking on local security in the border region of Sudan and the Congo

Introduction:

The proliferation of small arms has resulted in devastating consequences in particular among pastoralist societies in the Great lakes area and the Horn of Africa. Meanwhile governments fail to protect the lives and livelihoods of local communities who in turn do not have another choice than to protect themselves. Communities consequently arm themselves and are often part and parcel of dynamic arms trades. Earlier cases of disarmament has shown that unilateral, top-down imposed disarmaments result in poor cooperation from the local communities or lead to vulnerable communities and consequent increased violence6. Earlier research for conferences in Jinja7 and Arua also revealed that most of the pastoral communities use their weapons for self-defence (indicating absence of the state when it comes to law enforcement) and not for raiding. Scarcity of natural resources, increasing during the dry season put a lot of pressure on the communities to survive resulting in raids, theft, killings and vengeance. Trafficking showed to be very profitable with margins of almost 400%, while corruption within the low-paid army, customs and security officers aggravates the situation. Next to the collateral proliferation of weapons caused by the wars in the neighbouring countries, states were reported to purposely arm rivalling groups of their enemies. Abject poverty and marginalisation of the pastoralist communities forces and leads them to resolve their own affairs.

The following study starts from the premises that stakeholders need to be together from the start to come up with concrete action plans to improve local security.

Background:

The region, with wars in Congo and Sudan and lack of law enforcement in the adjacent border regions of Ethiopia and Kenya, still remains unsafe with a large amount of illicit weapons in the hands of often young, unlicensed and untrained, men.

Since 1996 a wide scale international and national war ravaged the Congo. The conflict has resulted in a massive breakdown of social and physical infrastructure and collapse of the economy. The upper part of the province of Haut Uele has in particular been suffering from the war in the Sudan. The SPLA occupied part of its territory and even after its departure the illicit arms trade continued into Congo. While research from December 2002 showed in two independent surveys that arms were also smuggled into

6 The case of Karamoja described in… 7 ADOL et al, International conference on small arms trafficking in the border regions of Sudan, Uganda and Kenya: Determining the issues and setting the strategies, November 9-13 2001, Jinja, Uganda

40 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 and from Maridi and Yei on the Sudanese border, trade markets on the Congolese side were identified as Doruma, Nabiapai, de Kakesa near Faradje 8. Purchase of arms happened clandestine and often-custom officers were accomplice.

These findings are again confirmed in a recent report of the British parliament: ‘’The DRC-Sudan border is also recognised as a shipment-point for arms and ammunition. MONUC sources indicated that there are arms markets along the Sudanese border, such as in the villages of Nabiapai, Doruma and Bangbi. The types of weapons that are regularly sold in these markets include Kalachnikov, SMG, FAL, G3, GP, SAR 40 and SAR 80 (or Galil). Possible smuggling routes are from Yambio (location of another arms market), Ezo and Maridi in Sudan, and can pass via Bitima and Bagbele in the DRC before reaching the markets. Another large regional market, Ariwara, also sells smaller quantities of weapons and is used by the FAPC militia to purchase single weapons for personal use. This market is linked to Aba, Yambio, Juba and other towns in Sudan, Arua in Uganda, as well as to Kisangani. Goods are transported by bicycle over vast distances, and many of the transporters are Sudanese refugees based in Uganda. Much of this cross-border trading of weapons with Sudan is linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Information was received about arms smuggling networks that sue SPLA territory as a shipment point for weapons arriving in Mombassa, Kenya and destined for eastern DRC. These examples show that the border zone between the DRC, Sudan and Uganda is at the centre of smuggling routes which contribute to small arms proliferation.’’9

The problem of illicit arms trade is even more tangible in the national park of Garamba where several armed groups trade arms quite openly. This trafficking and the presence of these armed groups go together with the poaching of wild boar. At the same time the park harbours armed groups that again may form a threat to the security of the south Sudan.

After the signing of the peace agreement on the 9th of January 2005 there are indications that the arms flow from the Sudan into the Congo is increasing. The increased volume of arms is likely to endanger the peace in the northern part of Congo with the consequences of the destructions f goods, increased levels of banditism, increased levels of interethnic violent relations, reverse development, and this trickling down into neighbouring districts

On the other hand the Sudan is at the brink of a new era, where people long for a consolidation of the peace agreement. Demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration programmes on both sides of the border will severely hampered when communal security is not maintained. Increased trafficking is likely to increase the feeling of insecurity.

Strategy:

8 Proliferation and Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms in the North East of DRC - by JUSTICE-PLUS (Flory Kayembe, Desire Nkoy, Missak Kasongo), PDF file, 323 Kb 9 Arms flows in eastern DR Congo, All parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region, December 2004, page 28

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The research on the Sudanese side will be coordinated by the head of the Justice and Peace Department of the Sudanese Catholic Bishops Regional Conference who will be assisted by Justice and Peace coordinators of the dioceses. Use will be made of secondary literature in particular the reports on surveys carried out for the Arua conference.

Interview techniques will be focus groups and semi-structured interviews with key people. The estimated survey time is 3 to 4 weeks.

Objectives:

1. To know the sub-sector of small arms in the region: trade routes, estimated volumes, types and involved numbers of arms, categories of people and its overall effect on the sense of security in the communities. a. To collect and analyse information from the local administrative and security official, community leaders businessmen and businesswomen, about the movements of illicit arms in the border areas; b. Analyse the dynamics of run trafficking and the driving forces, the quantities, qualities and types of small arms and light weapons traded; factors sustaining their sources, the markets, the collateral commodities and the approximate prices; 2. To determine the impact of the small arms proliferation on the security, peace, stability, local social and economic activities; and the local and regional implications of the small arms trafficking on the communities; 3. To allow for debate and the formulation of action plans to improve the local security by measures that would control arms markets, arms flow and the use of arms. 4. To advocate for steps and initiatives taken by the government authorities and others in both countries to curb the small arms proliferation, particularly the role of the local leaders, politicians and traders.

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Areas of study:

Doruma, Dungu, Faradje, Aba and Ariwara on the Congolese side and Yambio, Maridi, Ezo and Yei on the Sudanese side. From the perspective of the ecclesial organisation this would mean the involvement of the entire diocese of Dungu-Doruma, the northern part of the diocese of Isiro (Faradje) and the diocese of Mahagi (Aba). On the Sudanese side the dioceses of Yei, Maridi and Yambio-Tambura will be involved.

Research area

Map 1: Sudan Congo border and research areas

Methodology:

The survey sites have been selected on the basis of their role in the arms trade identified in earlier research. In Sudan the following sites are proposed: Yei, Maridi, Yambio, Ezo, Tambura

For RD Congo the following sites are proposed: Ariwara, Aba, Faradje, Doruma, Dungu and Duru, Nabiapai, Bangbi, Bitima, Bagbele

In every site two techniques are used: a) Interviews in focus groups b) Semi-structured qualitative and quantitative interviews with key people

Ad a) The interviews with the focus groups will be organised in each survey site. The purpose of these interviews is to know the experience and attitudes of the different categories with small arms (leading to a conclusion on how small arms threaten and contribute to security). Finally their view is appreciated on their suggestions on how

43 Community security workshop in Yei September 2005 control arms to increase their own communal security. As focus groups the following categories will be chosen (where possible): - Women associations - Traders associations - Youth associations - Notables - Religious leaders

Ad b) The aim of the semi-structured personal interviews with key people is, in an atmosphere of discretion, to obtain data on the arms trade network as described in the objectives. The following key people may be identified: - Clergy - Chiefs - Police commander - Military commander - Paramount chiefs - Commissioner - Heads of NGOs

Guidelines for Topics and Questions:

The following topics/questions will feature:

1. Administrative level: 1.1. Boma 1.2. Payam 1.3. District 1.4. State

2. Political military history of the area: 2.1. Armed group(s) in the area 2.2. Major incidents that took place 2.3. Presence of extraction of a valuable primary natural resource (oil, diamante, teak,..)

3. Markets: 3.1. Identification of markets 3.2. Estimation of the number of arms in the market 3.3. Estimation of quantities of ammunition 3.4. Number of arms traders 3.5. Estimation of the price of different types of arms 3.6. Estimation of the financial turnover per day/week/month/year 3.7. Origin of traders 3.8. How the arms are transported to the market 3.9. Origin of the arms 3.10. Where do people get their ammunition

4. Arms proliferation:

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4.1. Number and type of arms in circulation 4.2. Who are carrying the guns 4.3. Is there a difference per age group between possession and the actual use of the arms? 4.4. Impact of small arms on the communal security 4.5. Identification of reasons for purchase or for sale of small arms

4. Planning Sudan:

Responsibilities Implementers: JP coordinators Yambio-Tambura, Yei, Maridi Coordinator: head of the Justice and Peace Department of the SCBRC

Every survey is being carried out by the coordinators of the Justice and Peace committees of the respective dioceses, while overall supervision, initial instruction and training and final reporting is being carried out by the head of the justice and peace department of the SCBRC. SCBRC may have deployed a field coordinator during the survey.

Time frame

May: Preparatory meeting with JP coordinators, SCBRC and field coordinator: Explanation on the objectives and strategies and methods of the survey Test: two interviews with focus groups and two semi-structured personal interviews Exchange of experiences and fine-tuning of methodologies

June-July: Implementation of the survey

July: Plenary meeting with JP coordinators, SCBRC and field coordinator: presentation of findings and drafting of reports

Yambio-Tambura (and Ezo) 10 focus group interviews x 1 day = 10 days 15 personal interviews x 1 day = 15 days Total: 25 days of work for the JP coordinator Yambio-Tambura Result: 25 interview reports

Yei 5 focus group interviews x 1 day = 5 days 5 personal interviews x 1 day = 5 days Total 10 days of work for the JP coordinator Yei Result: 10 interview reports

Maridi 5 focus group interviews x 1 day = 5 days

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5 personal interviews x 1 day = 5 days Total: 10 days of work for the JP coordinator Yambio-Tambura Result: 10 interview reports

5. Planning RD Congo:

Exécuteur du recherche : CDJP Dungu Doruma, VdO, CDJP Isiro, CDJP Mahagi Encadreur de recherche : Emelie Angoyi (VdO) Père Justin (d.p.), directeur Peduc, Université Haut Uele

Chaque recherche est exécutée par le représentant de la CDJP et par un délégué de la VdO. L’encadrement de l’ensemble est proposé pour père Justin qui participe à l’atelier préparatoire et a la fin.

Mai : réunion préparatoire a Dungu ou participent : - CDJP Dungu Doruma - CDJP Isiro - abbé Athanase Bayo de Aba - VdO - Père Justin Explication de recherche Explication de méthode Test de 2 interview groupe focus et 2 interview personnel Echange des expériences, mise au point de la méthodologie

Juin-Juillet : exécution de la recherche

Juillet : réunion plenaire, présentation des données, rédaction du rapport

Dungu Doruma 6 interviews focus x 1 jour = 6 jours 15 interviews personnel x 1 jours = 15 jours Total : 21 jours de travail par VdO et CDJP Dungu Produit : 21 rapports d’interview

Isiro Faradje : 3 interview focus x 1 jour = 3 jours 5 interview personnel = 5 jours Total 8 jours par VdO et CDJP Isiro Produit : 8 rapports d’interview

Mahagi Aba, Ariwara 6 interviews focus x 1 jour = 6 jours 10 interviews personnel x 1 jours = 10 jours Total 16 jours de travail par CDJP Mahagi produit : 16 rapports d’interview

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Parc National de la Garamba Rapport écrit par le conservateur principal du parc

Expected Results:

The study and conference are meant to create awareness among the communities, to provide substantive and sufficient backing of findings to be presented on the conference and to enable the participants of the conference to formulate joint action plans to increase local security and enhance good neighbourliness.

The study will result in a mainly qualitative description of arms and ammunition networks, inclusive of markets and traders, an estimation of numbers of different type of arms and ammunition traded and the presence and proliferation of arms in the communities and how the communities perceive the role of these arms in threatening and contributing to their local security.

Time Frame:

The research is to be carried out during June and July while the final report is expected to be finished before the 20th of July 2005. The conference is to be held in August 2005.

The Survey’s Objectives:

- Analyze the sub-sector of small arms in the region; trade routes, estimated volumes, types and involved numbers of arms, categories of people and it’s overall effect on the sense of security in the communities. To collect information from the local administrative and security movements of illicit arms in the border areas as well as dynamics of run trafficking and the driving forces, the quantities, qualities and types of small arms and light weapons traded with the factors, sources, markets, collateral commodities and approximate prices. - To determine the impact of small arms proliferation on the security, peace, stability, local social and economic activities; and the local and regional implications of the small arms trafficking on the communities. - To allow for debate and the formulation of action plans to improve the local security by measures that would control arms flow and the use of arms. - To advocate for steps and initiatives taken by the government authorities and others in both countries to curb the small arms proliferation, particularly the role of the local leaders, politicians and traders.

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